on a minimum basis

USAGE SUMMARY

"on a minimum basis" is a correct phrase and is generally used in written English.
For example, "The company only accepts returns on a minimum basis in order to prevent fraud."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That summer, though, the Murphys persuaded Sella to keep the Hôtel du Cap open on a minimum basis, with a cook, a waiter, and a chambermaid as the entire staff, and they moved in with their children, sharing the place with a Chinese family who had been staying there and had decided to remain when they learned that the hotel would stay open.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Quite simply many of these schools have been built on a minimum cost basis".

The Guardian

The minimum basis on which a necessary (sufficient) relation can be claimed is 0.90 (0.75) [ 29, 30].

Globalization and Health

Everybody except Welles works on a minimum-guarantee-and-percentage basis.

The New Yorker

"It's that they must be used for a minimum of one year on a daily basis to have any chance at a cure.

The New York Times

To assure that we are comparing minimum wage standards on a comparable basis, the minimum-to-average wage ratios in Table 2 have accounted for the fact that some provinces include social security payments and housing provident funds as part of the wage when calculating minimum wages.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

The British Horseracing Authority kept public comment to a minimum, on the basis that the story is only a rumour at present.

The Guardian - Sport

The interviews are voluntary because under the Fourth Amendment, an involuntary detention for questioning might well be a "seizure" requiring justification, at a minimum, on the basis of some reason to suspect a particular individual of a particular crime.

The New York Times

The idea is for volunteers to provide one-to-one support via phone or email to Real Lettings' tenants on a weekly basis for a minimum of six months to reduce their social isolation and help them gain the confidence to become part of the local community.

The Guardian - Money

In terms of the inappropriate use of medication, 82.6% of the elderly who used medication on a daily basis received a minimum of one medication that was a PIM, with antipsychotics (26.5%) and analgesics (15.1%) being the most frequently used therapeutic categories (Additional file 2: Table S2).

BMC Geriatrics

Intercapital L.L.C., a fledgling Chicago investment bank created specifically to sell bonds for the retail investor, has begun offering Bank of America's debt on a continuous basis, with a minimum, commission-free purchase of $1,000.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on a minimum basis", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being minimized, whether it's resources, staff, or operations.

Common error

Avoid using "on a minimum basis" without specifying what is being kept to a minimum. Vague usage can confuse readers. For example, instead of saying "We are operating on a minimum basis", specify "We are operating with a minimum staff" or "We are operating on a minimum budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a minimum basis" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the extent or manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig shows that it describes actions done with the least possible resources or activity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on a minimum basis" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is being done with the fewest possible resources or at the lowest possible level. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, especially in news and media and scientific publications. To avoid vagueness, it's best practice to specify what exactly is being minimized. Alternatives such as "on a limited scale" or "with minimal resources" can offer similar meanings, depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a limited scale

Focuses on the scope or extent of the activity, emphasizing its restricted nature.

at the lowest level

Emphasizes the position or degree to which something is reduced.

with minimal resources

Highlights the scarcity of resources available to perform the action.

in a reduced capacity

Indicates a decrease in the ability or power to function.

on a skeleton staff

Specifically refers to maintaining only the essential personnel.

on a shoestring budget

Emphasizes the extreme frugality or lack of funding.

at rock bottom

Indicates the lowest possible point or condition.

in its most basic form

Focuses on stripping something down to its essential elements.

with the fewest possible elements

Highlights the reduction in the number of components involved.

under austerity measures

Specifically implies cost-cutting and strict financial constraints.

FAQs

How can I use "on a minimum basis" in a sentence?

You can use "on a minimum basis" to describe situations where resources or operations are reduced to the lowest possible level. For example, "The hotel remained open "on a minimum basis" during the off-season".

What does "on a minimum basis" mean?

The phrase "on a minimum basis" means doing something with the fewest resources or at the lowest possible level. It implies a reduction or limitation in scope, resources, or effort.

Which is more appropriate: "on a minimal basis" or "on a minimum basis"?

Both "on a minimal basis" and "on a minimum basis" are acceptable, but "on a minimum basis" is slightly more common. They both convey the idea of reducing something to the smallest possible amount or level.

What are some similar phrases to "on a minimum basis"?

Similar phrases include "on a limited scale", "with minimal resources", and "in a reduced capacity". These alternatives can provide slightly different nuances depending on the context.